Tipping In The USA - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - 18-20% on The Pre-Tax Total
🍔 Fast Food - Not Expected ($1-2 If Table Service)
🚙 Drive-Thru - Not Expected
🛵 Delivery Driver - 15-20%
☕️ Barista - $1-2 Total If More Complex Order
🍹 Bar - $1-2/Drink ($0 For Free Water)
👨✈️ Valet - $2-3 ($5-10 If Free)
🚕 Taxi - 10-15%
🛎️ Bellhop - $1-2/Bag
🛏️ Housekeeping - $3-5/Day
📸 Tour Guide - 10-15%
💈 Barber/Hairstylist - 15-20%
🚚 Movers - $10-30/Mover
Whilst tipping helps to ensure fair compensation for many American service industry employees, the widespread use of the “Suggested Tip” screen means you’ll now see it in many situations where a tip isn’t really called for.
Outside of the scenarios I’ve outlined (and detailed below), use your intuition to judge whether a tip is appropriate. Bottom line, don't tip in situations where no/minimal customer service is required.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for the USA using this calculator and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Fast Food, Deliveries, Bars, Taxis, Hotels, etc.
USA Tip Calculator
Good Price For The USA
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Total With Tip
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Tipping in Restaurants
When dining out, an 18-20% tip on the pre-tax total is expected for good service given servers rely on tips to supplement their typically low pay.
Tip in the 15-17% range if you’re unsatisfied but don’t go any lower than that. Voice your honest feedback before you pay if you’re unhappy. In some cases, they might offer you a free or discounted meal.
Servers here are generally hardworking, friendly and outgoing so a generous gratuity serves as a way to appreciate the usually excellent service.
Tipping For Fast Food & Drive-Thru
Even in the USA, tipping in fast food restaurants isn’t expected whether you’re sitting in or using the drive-thru.
It’s become more common for servers at the cash register to ask you to enter a tip on a “Suggested Tip” screen. Don’t feel pressured here. Remain calm and just hit “No Tip” or enter “0”.
Even better, pay with cash and there won’t be any screens involved.
You might consider leaving $1-2 in the tip jar if there’s busboy or table service but it isn’t mandatory.
Tipping Food or Grocery Delivery Drivers
Tip delivery drivers 15-20% whether that’s restaurant delivery (e.g. DoorDash, Uber Eats) or grocery delivery (e.g. Shipt, Instacard, Taskrabbit, Walmart).
Remember, they don’t get the delivery fees and if they’re a gig worker, they’re paying for their own gasoline and vehicle depreciation. Grocery delivery drivers have to make even more of an effort as they have to shop, pay and pack for you.
Tipping In Coffee Shops
If you’re ordering something simple like a black coffee, there’s no need to tip the Barista. However, if you order a lot of drinks or go for something that requires more effort, leave $1-2 on the counter or in the tip jar.
Tipping in Bars
The standard practice is to tip your bartender $1-2 per drink. That’s especially true if you order something a little more complex that requires mixing. If you want a free water, there’s no need to tip.
Tipping The Valet
If you pay for valet service, tip $2-3 if they’re prompt. If it’s “free”, tip $5-10.
Tipping Cab, Uber & Lyft Drivers
For Taxi, Uber or Lyft rides, a tip of 10-15% is customary for a safe ride (if it’s not safe, skip the tip). Tip on the higher end of that range if your driver goes the extra mile and helps you with your bags or opens your car door for you.
Tipping The Bellhop/Porter
When you check into a hotel and a bellhop assists you with your luggage, hand them a cash tip of $1-2 per bag. If you don’t, they’ll likely stand and wait until you do.
Tipping Housekeeping
Leave a daily tip of $3-5 for housekeeping to show your appreciation for the cleanliness and comfort they provide. Leave the tip on the bedside table with a note.
Tip daily, not at the beginning/end of your stay, in case you get a few different housekeepers.
Tipping Tour Guides
Tour guides in the USA work hard to make your experience memorable. Tipping them around 10-15% of the total tour cost is expected, especially if they demonstrate their knowledge and expertise and/or it’s a long tour.
Which Currency To Use
When tipping in the USA you'll only have one option to pay and tip and that’s the United States Dollar ($). Both credit card and cash tips are appreciated in a lot of different situations but since card tips will take a few days to process, use cash when you can.
Have a great trip! 🇺🇸 🦅🗽
